Proposals for up to 425 new homes in Cranleigh have been put on hold after last-minute concerns were raised about flooding.

Berkeley Homes’ plans for a site south of Stocklund Square were due to be considered by Waverley’s joint planning committee on Tuesday evening (October 28).

The meeting lasted just seven minutes as chairman Brian Ellis told fellow councillors and members of the public that representations from the county council were received by the committee just two hours earlier.

“Planning officers have received this afternoon, very belatedly in the consultation process, a response from the flood and water services manager in the county council’s highways team,” said Cllr Ellis. “This expresses concerns regarding surface water flooding issues in relation to access from the site onto Alfold Road.

“It indicates the need for further information and clarification in order to overcome these concerns.”

A full public gallery was told that officers recommended deferring a decision while the document was considered, and that further information and clarification would be sought. They were told that an updated report would be brought back before the committee in due course – but that no date could yet be set.

Flooding issues have been one of the major concerns voiced by residents since the proposals were first published. The site is in a flood zone, as defined by the Environment Agency.

Speaking at a planning surgery, held by MP Anne Milton last Saturday, was Richard Bryant, who has worked as an insurance broker in the village for more than 40 years.

He said owners of the new homes may struggle to buy insurance.

“There may be very serious flood implications for people buying one of the proposed new Berkeley Homes houses in Cranleigh,” he said. “Owners of homes built before January 1 2009, which are at the highest risk of flooding, will be helped to obtain flood cover under a special government arrangement.

“However, this arrange-ment will not apply to the Berkeley houses and new house buyers could face the prospect of not being able to obtain flood cover, or will have to pay a high premium possibly with a very high excess.”

Villagers joined the Environment Agency in objecting that the site was on a notorious flood plain.

Cranleigh resident Liz Townsend said: “We are concerned about Berkeley Homes’ immovable stance on why they do not need to consult the emergency services with regards to drafting a flood emergency plan.

“If Waverley Borough Council officers neglect to pay regard to the importance of seeking reassurances for this, they will be playing fast and loose with the safety of future residents.”

After Tuesday’s meeting, planning officer Barry Lomax indicated that the application could come back before the committee early December.

Campaigners from Waverley Friends of the Earth claimed Berkeley Homes’ application failed to include recent flooding information, did not conduct proper consultation with the relevant authorities and did not consider the additional burden on the emergency services.

The group also claims that not enough has been done to demonstrate safe road access during a flood, or to show how people could be evacuated if necessary.

A spokesman for the developer said: “We are working closely with Surrey County Council to address the technical issue raised. Development of this site will not increase the risk of flooding in Cranleigh and no new homes will be built in the flood plain. Critically, the Environment Agency does not raise objection to the scheme.”

Berkeley Homes has been liaising with the Environment Agency on the project since 2013 and has submitted a flood risk assessment to it.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said there would be no comment while the response from Surrey County Council is investigated by the borough council.

Last week it was revealed that planning officers had recommended approval of the development, despite the removal of any allocation of affordable homes.